Scared of Failure...?

[Spuzzle]

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Sorry this is a little long but try and bear with me. So I entered college as a freshman this past year with as a bio major. I didn't do completely awful but not exactly well. The first two quarters of gen chem I took I received a C in both. I kinda panicked about my whole medical career and switched directions completely, taking completely general education courses this spring quarter since I was undecided.

I've been exploring numerous career options but the veterinary tract just keeps coming back. It appeals to me in so many ways and definitely goes deeper than just the average love for animals thing.

I'm just so uncertain as to what to do. I'm nervous about moving on in the chemistry classes and receiving more low grades and being left with absolutely nothing to do if I don't make it into vet school. It isn't as if I didn't try hard in my gen chem classes. How do you guys deal with these kinds of feelings?

 

[jmo1012]

when it came to grades and uncertainty about the future, i spent every day of my freshman year panicking about it at some point (i kid you not, it was every single day and horrible!). at some point i said to myself, look if this is what you really want to do and you have no other career options, then not getting into/going to vet school is not an option. once i took on that mentality, my life was a lot better! my grades weren't fantastic, but i worked really hard and did a lot of meaningful things during undergrad.

it always made me sad to see students that were so passionate about something drop their science major and go a different path because they didnt do well in a class and panicked about the grade.

 

[squirrelsrule]

Sorry to hear you are struggling 🙁. Have you tried getting a tutor?

Maybe Chemistry is just not your thing and you'll do better in the other science classes. Have you taken general Bio? I would think that would be something you are more interested in and therefore might do better in.

Also, if you are worried because you know you still have O. chem to take, O. Chem is totally different than gen chem. I LOVED O. Chem and was not a fan of gen chem at all.

Hang in there, things will get better, I hope you don't give up on your dream just because you aren't doing awesome in chemistry. A C isn't the worst and if you do well in the other science classes that will make up for it.

 

[jmo1012]

Also, if you are worried because you know you still have O. chem to take, O. Chem is totally different than gen chem. I LOVED O. Chem and was not a fan of gen chem at all.

I loved ochem as well and wasnt a fan of gen chem (if only i had remembered how much i disliked/was terrible at gen chem 4 years later when i signed on for analytical chem!). they are completely different. advice for ochem-learn it, dont memorize it. it will make much more sense and be much easier to apply it in exams

 

[LetItSnow]

How do you guys deal with these kinds of feelings?

My study partner for most of my vet pre-req classes was a total type A, Nervous Nelly who insisted we study far, far, far more than actually needed. She consistently did B-quality work with an A-quality mind purely because she got so worked up over whether she was going to get into med school that she completely psyched herself out. She started self-medicating with her dog's valium, for god's sake.

It really was a bummer because she totally had it in her to get straight A's with half the effort if she would have just chilled.

So my advice is: Make sure that you aren't just putting in the time studying, but that the time you're studying is useful, effective, and efficient. If not, adjust so it is: don't just keep banging your head against the same wall. Beyond making sure you're putting in the time, just RELAX, have some confidence in yourself, and don't beat yourself up over what you perceive as major failures that are probably, in reality, minor setbacks.

And remember, only really weird people actually enjoy physics and chemistry. 🙂

 

[jmo1012]

She started self-medicating with her dog's valium, for god's sake.

thats exactly the kind of behavior the medical/professional field wants-hope she put that on her application! 😉

jokes aside, dont forget that while grades are a big part of the package, they certainly aren't the whole package. we've all heard stories of the 4.0 that got rejected because the person lacked a well rounded application

So my advice is: Make sure that you aren't just putting in the time studying, but that the time you're studying is useful, effective, and efficient. If not, adjust so it is: don't just keep banging your head against the same wall. Beyond making sure you're putting in the time, just RELAX, have some confidence in yourself, and don't beat yourself up over what you perceive as major failures that are probably, in reality, minor setbacks.

QUALITY studying is far better and effective than QUANTITY studying. i know several people who quantity study and they drive me nuts! just because you studied for 10 hours yesterday while constantly texting your SO and having movies playing in the background doesn't make you a better student! in fact, you probably have to study longer because you have all those distractions keeping a part of your brain unfocused! (okay end rant!)

And remember, only really weird people actually enjoy physics and chemistry. 🙂

😛 i'm pretty sure i only liked ochem because i had an awesome professor. can't say i really enjoy the rest of chemistry or physics haha

 

[Coquette22]

My study partner for most of my vet pre-req classes was a total type A, Nervous Nelly who insisted we study far, far, far more than actually needed. She consistently did B-quality work with an A-quality mind purely because she got so worked up over whether she was going to get into med school that she completely psyched herself out. She started self-medicating with her dog's valium, for god's sake.

It really was a bummer because she totally had it in her to get straight A's with half the effort if she would have just chilled.

I knew someone just like this. She would seriously hardcore cram for hours on end for every test - to the point that she'd totally lose sight of the bigger concepts while getting hung up on the word of sentences.

 

[Tator17]

And remember, only really weird people actually enjoy physics and chemistry. 🙂

Um, I loved physics. And here I was thinking I was normal. Shoot. 😛

 

[heylodeb]

(I got a B in Gen Chem 1, C in Gen Chem 2, C in OChem - got accepted to vet school)

Sometimes it takes stepping away from the vet field to see if it's what you really wanted. Freshman year I was taking all prevet classes, working for a vet, doing everything I needed to get into vet school.....the job ended up being horrible, my grades stunk, and I was unhappy. SO, I went and freaked out, changed majors, transferred to a different school.....2 semesters later I realized that EVERY time I drove by a vet hospital I would lose my train of thought, each time I heard about someone getting into vet school I would feel my heart sink, and everytime I imagined myself in a different career I felt hopeless. I changed my major back, went back to getting experience hours at a different clinic, and here I am starting vet school in a little over 2 months. (5 years after changing my major the first time)

Maybe try taking a break from vet school pre reqs while still taking classes that fulfill your degree/GE requirements. See where you end up. Vet school isn't for everyone but if it's the only thing for you, you'll end up back on the path you are supposed to be on with a more confidant step and clearer direction.

 

[Cautionary Tail]

QUALITY studying is far better and effective than QUANTITY studying. i know several people who quantity study and they drive me nuts! just because you studied for 10 hours yesterday while constantly texting your SO and having movies playing in the background doesn't make you a better student! in fact, you probably have to study longer because you have all those distractions keeping a part of your brain unfocused! (okay end rant!)

I actually require distractions in order to stay focused... without stuff going on in the background, my mind wanders and I can't accomplish anything. I'm weird like that. 😉

 

[StartingoverVet]

I actually require distractions in order to stay focused... without stuff going on in the background, my mind wanders and I can't accomplish anything. I'm weird like that. 😉

Ditto!

 

[Spuzzle]

Ok you guys 🙂 I think you helped a lot. It was mostly just one kind of terrible feeling impulsive feeling that I just snapped and decided to scrap everything and heck with all of it. I already scheduled classes for next fall quarter that aren't with the sciences but I think winter quarter next year I'll get back on track and be about a year behind. But that's ok because I really think it is what I want to do 🙂 Thanks for all your help!

 

[jmo1012]

I actually require distractions in order to stay focused... without stuff going on in the background, my mind wanders and I can't accomplish anything. I'm weird like that. 😉

do you require active or passive distractions? i really can't imagine what kind of studying you can get done if you're picking up the phone to text someone every 2 mins while i can definitely see being able to have the tv or something on in the background. just curious 🙂

 

[lareinesoleil]

I actually require distractions in order to stay focused... without stuff going on in the background, my mind wanders and I can't accomplish anything. I'm weird like that. 😉

Me too. I always have on a movie or some music while I'm studying. The little distractions keep me from indulging in the big ones. You're not alone!

 

[Boilercowgrl]

I was the same way freshmen year, except an engineering major before I switched into Animal Science my second semester. I had 2 C's in gen chem, and withdrawal from an engineering calculus course. I thought for sure then I wouldn't get into vet school, but I was a nerd and actually like Organic Chem because for some reason I could wrap my head around that subject more. I really liked micro (even though that was another C) but I worked my butt off for that C and thought about re-taking it. My other grades in school had been mostly A's and B's so I talked with one of the admissions people to ask them any other questions (like re-taking micro) or what not, but my overall GPA was still pretty competitive. Physics was a little harder for me to understand, but I got a tutor right away and ended up having A's both semesters. For me, if it was a class I knew I would struggle in, I got a tutor right away.

So don't freak out yet, you are still good. For me, if I freaked out about school, then I couldn't concentrate on what I was studying so that was useless. I knew I had to be smart about studying and trust myself to not freak out.

 

[alwayslistening]

The best way I have dealt with these feelings is to realize that no matter what I do, failure is not an option. If things do not work out the first time, you try again, and again and again and again. And if you decide that its not for you, you find something else that gives you fulfillment and lets you enjoy life. Follow the path that gives you a warm fuzzy 🙂